Samaritan’s Purse is providing cars and trucks to those who lost theirs in the storm.
“It’s all yours! Congratulations, sir!”
James Roberts could hardly believe the words spoken to him by an employee of Hendrick Automotive Group. Thanks to Samaritan’s Purse partnership with the Charlotte auto dealer, a 2024 Toyota Tacoma crew cab 4 x 4 is now his.
It was just three months ago that the Marshall, North Carolina, resident’s 2012 four-wheel drive pickup was totaled as his son drove it through Hurricane Helene floodwaters in attempt to rescue some of his family’s belongings from the water rushing into the second floor of James’ home.
Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team gathers to dedicate a new vehicle to Hurricane Helene flood survivor James Roberts, and his wife, Lalena.
Recently, members of Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) gathered at Concord Baptist Church in Pensacola—a township of Burnsville, North Carolina, that was devastated by Helene—to dedicate two vehicles to survivors of the October 2024 storm. A delegation from Hendrick Automotive Group, including Vice President of Variable Operations Chris Little, was also present for the event.
“It really is God’s people all over the country who have made this possible.”
“It really is God’s people all over the country who have made this possible,” Chaplain Pat Wilson told Roberts and his wife, Lalena. He also gave the couple a Billy Graham Study Bible signed by the team and said, “One of the things that endures is God’s Word.”
The Robertses gratefully receive a Billy Graham Study Bible signed by the Samaritan’s Purse team.
Wilson likened this new Bible to the keys of the Roberts’ new truck. “You’re going to drive it today,” he said. “Neither will this do any good if it just stays in the box.”
Bradley Boone, the church pastor who also serves as a deputy sheriff and assistant chief of the fire department, prayed, “Thank you for bringing this couple through the storm. I pray that every time they get in [the truck] they’d remember Your goodness and grace.”
Lalena is especially grateful to now have a dependable vehicle.
“It’s crazy because you feel so happy and excited, but on the other hand, you feel unworthy. There’s somebody out there that might need it more than you do,” she said.
After circling his new Toyota Tacoma in wonder, James sits in the driver’s seat for the first time.
The Robertses lost their entire home to the floodwaters as well as all but 10 of their 87 fowl, including guineas, ducks, and peacocks.
“Six days after the flood I made a promise to God that if he would give me [back] my emu, I wouldn’t gripe or complain about anything I lost,” Lalena said. Fifteen minutes after saying that prayer, she got a call about that exact request—her animal had been located.
The truck is just one more example of God’s hand in their lives.
“Thank you is not big enough,” Lalena said. “I don’t know what the word would be. I’m beyond grateful. There are no words to describe the stress it’s relieved.”
“Samaritan’s Purse and Hendrick Auto have no idea how many lives they will actually touch with this.”
For James, the new truck puts him on a mission.
“It means we’re back to being able to help people. Now we’re in a position that we can bring the propane to others. That’s exactly what this truck means. … Samaritan’s Purse and Hendrick Auto have no idea how many lives they will actually touch with this.”
‘Even Unsaid Prayers Are Answered’
Next to the Robertses’ Tacoma in the church parking lot was a 2025 Toyota RAV4 for William Pagan. After he signed the paperwork and received the keys and a Bible signed by the DART members, Pagan said, “This disaster restored my faith in humanity. The only reason Pensacola is built up the way it is right now is because of communities and churches and amazing volunteers who have helped us rebuild. … Samaritan’s Purse has been here for a long time doing the hard work.”
Pagan signs the paperwork for his 2025 Toyota RAV4, provided through the generosity of Samaritan’s Purse donors and Hendrick Automotive Group.
Pagan survived Helene’s raging waters in his trailer. His 2003 Nissan Xterra and his 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 truck were parked in front of the five steps leading up to his mobile home. When torrential amounts of water began flowing through his front yard, a tree stump lodged up against the two vehicles and created a dam in front of his trailer that ultimately spared his life.
“God saved me. I prayed for a protective bubble around me, and when I walked out, I had a literal protective bubble of wood, power cable, and debris surrounding me on all sides. There’s no doubt in my mind that that was God saying, ‘I hear you. I got you.’”
When the floodwaters receded, the cars were a loss. This left him with no way to get to his job at the local commercial textile factory. He later received a beater vehicle to help him get there, but it had been damaged by fire and was not trustworthy transportation.
That’s why Pagan said the new car means security, safety, and reliability.
Having lost his vehicles to Hurricane Helene, William Pagan thanked Samaritan’s Purse for giving him reliable transportation so he can get safely to work.
“I can go to work now without having to worry about anything. … It’s indescribable. My gratitude and appreciation I really can’t put into words.”
Through tears he continued, “I’ve never been given anything like this. You really get to see how much people care when they can make something like this happen. It touches my heart and shows me how much the love of Jesus can move people to really help each other in a way most people have forgotten about.”
Pagan sees the vehicle as a blessing from the Lord that he had no idea was coming. “Even prayers unsaid are answered.”
This generosity reaffirmed to him that he is not forgotten or alone.
Chaplain Pat Wilson (left) and Pastor Bradley Boone pray with Pagan at the dedication ceremony.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said to the Samaritan’s Purse team on behalf of donors nationwide. “Thank you for opening [your] hearts and wanting to help. Without [you], I don’t know where I’d be.”
Please pray for our DART staff as they continue to provide relief and the hope of the Gospel across 11 counties affected by Hurricane Helene. Our U.S. Disaster Relief rebuild efforts are also underway with teams constructing homes for those who lost theirs in the storm.
